Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Currently, I’m on Part Seven of the 16-part audiobook. I’ve made a little progress recently, and so far, I still like it. I guess what I’ve enjoyed the most about it is the fantasy element. You’re introduced to various creatures and magic, and I think the world-building is a strong suit.

So far, I’m still trying to figure out the plot of the book and where it’s heading. At the very beginning, the protagonist, Tracker, is seen talking to an Inquisitor, who’s asking him questions. Tracker may be locked up somewhere, and he’s being questioned about possibly killing a boy or knowing about his whereabouts. Presumably, the story is leading up to this point, unraveling what happened to the boy and Tracker’s involvement.

There are some interesting bits, though I feel there’s a bit of bloat with the side stories. They likely tie into the ultimate ending, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. Nevertheless, it’s still engaging. It can be pretty gruesome, touching on murder, violence, and rape. Additionally, it delves a lot into male-to-male sexuality, and not much about heterosexual relationships, probably as a reflection of the author’s orientation. That’s it for now.

Original draft written in December 2019